It will be sad news to many, especially in Tennessee and Texas, to learn that the Rev. S. J. Kerr died at Walnut Springs, in Bosque county, Texas, Thursday, January 20, 1888. While traveling, selling books, and preaching he took a severe cold and then pneumonia, of which he died. He only lived a week after he returned home from his trip. He was born in Maury county, Tenn., May 15, 1835. His parents were William and Margaret Kerr. He made profession of religion and joined the Church when about eighteen years of age. As near as I could ascertain he joined Richland Presbytery when about twenty years of age. His first wife was Dora Sanford, daughter of Col. Sanford, of Mississippi. There were three children by this marriage, two of whom are dead. William is the only one of them now living. He was married to his second wife, Miss Victoria Givens, nineteen years ago. There are, of this marriage, five living children and one dead. When he came to Texas he settled near Paris. He was engaged in preaching most of the time since he came to this State. His heart was in the work, and he was always ready to preach when opportunity offered. Like many others, he was greatly hindered on account of very limited support. He had good ability, and would have been able to accomplish much greater good for the cause that was dear to his heart if he could have been relieved of care and anxiety about the support of his family. He was a man of good scholarship. I think he was educated at Cumberland University. He was very devoted to his Church, and dearly loved the cause of the Master.

He leaves a very helpless family to mourn his loss. He was very kind in his family relations, and his love and care will be sorely missed by wife and children. May God comfort and bless them temporally and spiritually. The writer preached his funeral sermon in Walnut Springs to a very large congregation assembled to pay a tribute of respect to his memory. The ministers of Waco Presbytery will join me in an expression of sorrow that he will no more meet with us in the councils of the Church.

"Servant of God, well done;
Rest from thy loved employ;
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy."

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, 9 February 1888, page 2]